The redevelopment of a 22-bed unit at Northgate, located
at 7264 Nash Road
in North Tonawanda, N.Y. 14120, was completed in early 2012. The collaboration is notably the first of its kind in New York State.

The unit, affectionately named "Hospice at Jeanne's
House - A Northgate and Niagara Hospice Collaboration" after a beloved Northgate
employee who utilized Hospice services herself, is devoted to meeting the
physical, emotional and spiritual needs of terminally ill residents requiring
both 24-hour skilled nursing care and the unique services that only Niagara
Hospice can provide. Residential care is co-managed by both organizations.

According
to a study sponsored by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
(NHPCO), only 6% of nursing home residents in the U.S. currently elect the
hospice benefit, even though nearly one-in-four deaths in the U.S. occur in a
nursing home. There are a number of reasons for this including the territorial
nature of health care providers, conflicting regulations and Medicare
reimbursement. The collaborative teams at Niagara Hospice and Northgate have
chosen to take a more positive approach, working together to create medical
protocols and an attractive and comfortable physical environment that can deliver a breadth of progressive,
comprehensive services in a setting where it is needed the most.

As a
center of excellence for hospice care in nursing homes, the staff at Hospice at Jeanne's House - A Northgate and
Niagara Hospice Collaboration has been specifically trained to meet requirements for providing this specialized level of care. The unit featuresbeautifully
decorated private and semi-private rooms; a lounge with access to an enclosed
and furnished outdoor courtyard; volunteer companions; specialized therapies such as massage; music and pet visits;
advance care planning and bereavement services for family members. Medicalservices include 24-hour skilled
nursing care; IV therapy for pain and symptom management; pharmacy
consultations; oxygen therapy; and other specialized services, as needed.